I missed a few days due to some family stuff, but am back on track. Yesterday and today I had a lot of fun spending time in the studio. I started working back into one of my vineyard wine barrel pieces. For this landscape I am using a couple different photo references for the sky and vines, but changing the colors completely. For me having the reference is great for getting the composition and idea down, but why not change up the palette and create more harmony.

I still have a ways to go, but it was a good start - lots of juicy layers of oil.

More progress today. I'll continue to work on this piece the rest of the week along with some Woodland / Forest illustrations.

My art background is full of drawing and design, but it's been a few years since I've focused on my drawings. I started teaching drawing and illustration classes at the Crocker Museum this year and had a bit of a renewed appreciation for it. Teaching these classes on top of planning my babies nursery has got me on a illustration kick. I've been creating Woodland/ Forest Friend drawings and can't seem to stop. I don't know where these will go or for how long I'll create them, but I like that I'm tapping into a different process and creative path than my norm.